Saxophone



June 9, 1964 l.. LEBLANC 3,136,200

SAXOPHONE Filed June 14, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ma ll t INV EN TOR.Zefphfzc BY'WJ, 22%/ June 9, 1964 L. LEBLANC 3,136,200

SAXOPHONE Filed June 14, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 494 1.5() 490 4f@ C 6495(57 *In 50g 51o 504 f. 465 430 476 E 43W) 5. ggg) 4.44 470 476 1% n 7f 40.52 mi 46g 500 (ffso 4% 462 560 f) 540,36 M 502 4&6 ya

34E 105 11E INVENTOR. 4% ZJ-eww y rac BY Ma@ MM United States Patent F t3,136,200 l., SAXOPHONE Leon Leblanc, Paris, France, assignor to G.Leblanc Corporation, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin FiledJune 14, 1961, Ser. No. 117,071

10 Claims. (Cl. 84-385) It is a further; object of this invention toprovide suchv an instrument wherein the keys and pads controlled by thekleft hand are pivotable about three axes, `while those controlled `bythe right hand are pivotable about two axes.

Yet another object of thisinvention is to provide a musical windinstrument such as a saxophone wherein the contacting parts of theinterconnections between keys have larger bearing surfaces, and whereinthe parts have bet'terleverage. v t v 4 Specically, it is an object ofthis invention to provide a musical wind instrument such as a saxophonein which the driving or pressure points acting to close the various padsare `,disposed close to the holes to be closed. v 4

It is further ani object of this invention to 4provide a musical windinstrument such as a saxophone wherein the small pads to be operated bythe left hand are pivotally mounted about acommon axis, wherein each pador` key 'isindependenh but kwherein all thereof are interconnected. y f

It is yet anotherr object of this invention to provide a musical windinstrument suchy as ak saxophone wherein all of the small keys or padsare independent but operatively interconnected; v

It is afurther object of improved high F key. n

Other Vand further objects and advantages of the present ,inventionwillbe apparent from the following 4descriptionjwhen taken in connectiondrawings wherein: ,t f FIG. .l is a front perspective View of an altosaitophone constructed in accordance with the principles ofv thisinvention; f y FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevationalview of ay portion ofthesaxophone, .embodying` the keys to be played by the right hand;

FIG.. 3, iskan enlarged left side view of the saxophone showing the belland adjacent parts; l

FIGQ4 is a partial back View of the y,saxophone astaken alongtheline 4 4in FIG.` FIG. 3 being taken along the line- 3-3 in FIG. 4', y* t FIG. 5is a horizontal cross-sectional viewk as taken along theline 5-5 in FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a Slightly skewed, Substantiauy vleft handyiew of the upperportion of the saxophone as taken along "the line 6-6 in FIG 1 7; t

FIG. 7 isgan elevational.viewA taken from,r slightly/.to one sideofthetront. of the saxophone and showing the upper'portionthe'reofas't'aken along the liney 7 7 in,

FIG. Y6; and

i FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view asA taken along the liney8 8 in FIG. 7. t t o Referring first to FIG. l, there is shown an altosaxophone generally designated by the numeral 10, and corn#` prising albody 12, tapering invdiameter from top to bottom, and having an upturnedand outwardly flaring 'bell' 14 at the lower end thereof. yThe body isprovided at the upper end Awith the usual neck-pipe receiver 16 andneckpipe receiver screw 18. An angulatedf neck-pipe 20 yfitsv 'thisinvention to kprovide an y3,136,200 n Patented June 9, 1964 end isprovided with'a generally cylindrical cork cover.

ing or overlayf24 Ion which the mouthpiece 26 fits.

Most of the keys, although `by no means all thereof,

` are shown` in FIG. 1, although 'the gureis on a suffiwith theaccompanying ciently small -scale that most of the connections andmechanisms are not shown in detail. Thus, there is in the neck an octavehole 28 closed by an octave key 30 having an upper portion 32 thereofoverlying the neckpipe `and pivotally mounted at 34. The bottom or tailend of the octave key is split and encircles the lower `portion of theneck-pipe and receiver and has a bight 36, engaged by a mechanismcontrolled in part by a thumb spatula (not shown). 7

The keys and holes which are shown in FIG. l include the high F tonehole and key 38, and the adjacent high E key 40. The Dit spatula may beseen at 42, along with the high D spatula 44, and the high F spatula 46.The G key 48 is immediately below or downstream from Returning up to aposition adjacent the Dit spatula 42, there is a Ct? key 48. Theiinger-piece 50 of the high F'key overlies the B key 52. The Bb bis key54 is positioned adjacent the B keySZ. The A key 56 overlies this key,and operates through suitable connections hereinafter to be described tooperate the A key cup 58. Immediately adjacent the A key cup 5S, thereis the G resonator key cup` 60. All of these keys and key cups areoperated by the left hand, as kwill be understood by those skilled inthe art, as is the G key cover 62.

Turning now to the keys and key cups operated by the right hand,immediately below the G cup 62 is the F resonator key cup 64, followedby the F key cup 66, the Fil key cup 68, the D key cup 70, and therelatively small Eb key cup 72. f

As will ,be observed, the F resonator cup 64, the Fli cup 6,8, and theEb cup 72 are of relatively lsmall size, as compared with theintervening cups 66 and 70. Sub` stantially at the bight or crookleading up to the bell 14 there is found onpone side a C key cup 74having a keyv guard 76 thereover. y This key cup 74 covers thefC tonehole that is known as the low C tone hole. .On the opposite side of thebell and spaced slightly above the C cup 74, thereis a low Cit key cup78. Above this is the low` the constru'ctional detals of the keys andkey cups operi' ated by the right hand. Thus, there are three alignedposts 88, 90, and 92, each ofthe double variety. A 'hinge rod 94 ispivoted between the inner pivot of post 88 and a short post 93. A hingerod 9,5 is aligned with hinge rod 94 and is pivoted betweenpost 93 andthe inner` pivot of post 90. As rwill be understood, hinge rod 94",

is actually a tube, as are other hinge rods hereinafter set forth.However, the conventionalk nomenclature of hinge rod is used throughout.Similarly, the hinge rod 96 is aligned with hinge rods 94 and 95 and ispivoted between the inner ypivotsl of the post 92. The hinge rod 98is'pivoted between the outer pivots ofthe posts 88 Land 90, while thehinge rod 100 is alignedL with the hinge rod v 98 and is pivoted betweenthe` outer `pivots of the post and 92. f

At ythe upper end of the hinge rod 94 `there is provided an arm 102extending laterally to the left, as viewediny FIG. 2. At the outer end,this arm has a set screw 104 with a lock nut 106 thereon. `The set screwis slotted at the upper end, and hasy a. flat headk (not shown) at the108 fixed on a hinge rod 110 pivoted at its lower end onl a post 112.The hinge rod 110 will be discussed hereinafter in greater detail inconnection with another figure.

An arm 114 extends to the left from the hinge rod 94 and carries the Fresonator key cup 64. As will be bserved in FIG. l, this cup normally israised above the F resonator hole 116. It is springurged to thisposition by a needle spring 117 extending from the post 88 and engaginga spur (not shown) beneath the hinge rod 94. An arm 118 extends to theleft from the hinge rod 95 on which it is fixed, andk at the outer endthereof carries a set screw and lock nutadjustment device 120 similar tothe set screw 104 and lock nut 106 previously described. The felt pad onthe other side of the set screw bears against the top of the key cup 64.At the lower end of the hinge rod 95 there is a laterally extending arm122 on which the key cup 68 is secured. A needle spring 124 extends upfrom the post 90 and bears against a spur 126 on the hinge rod 95 fornormally maintaining the arms 118 and 122 in raised position, wherebythe cup 68 normally is spaced above the Ff hole 128.

A lever 130 is fixed on the upper end of the hinge rod 96 and extendsout over the key cup 68, carrying a mother-of-pearl ngerpiece 132 at theouter end. A lateral fixture on the arm 130 carries a set screw and locknut adjustment 134 similar to those previously described, the felt onthe under face of the set screw bearing against the top of the key cup68 for closing of the Ff key cup on the Fil hole 128 when it is sodesired. A spur 136 immediately adjacent the `arm 30 is engageable witha stop 138 to limit raising of the lever 130 under the inuence of aneedle spring 140 fixed to the post 92 and bearing against a spur 142 onthe under side of the hinge rod 96. Such stop acts through the overlyinglevers 130 and 118 and the corresponding key cups 68 and 64 to limitraising of these parts under the force of their respective springs. p

Near the lower end of the hinge rod 96 lthere is an arm or point 144which is fixed to the hinge rod, and which carries the Eb key cup 72 inraised position relative to the underlying Eb hole 146.

A laterally extending arm 148 is fixed on the hinge rod 98 relativelytoward the upper end thereof, and is provided at its outer end with aset screw and lock nut adjustment 150, the felted underside of whichadjustably bears against the key cup 64. Slightly below the center ofthe hinge rod 98 is an arm or point 152 on which is iixed the key cover66. A needle spring 156 fixed in the post 90 bears against a spur 15,8on the underside of the hinge rod 98 normally to hold key cover 66 andthe arm 148 in raised position. A stop arm 160 on the hinge rod 98 isengageable with the body 12 of the saxophone to limit such outwardmovement.

. A laterally extending arm 162 is fixed on the hinge rod 100 relativelytoward the upper end thereof, and at its outer end is provided with aset screw and lock nut adjustment 164 of the type previously described,the felted undersurface thereof bearing against the key cup 68. Thehinge rod 100 further has fixed thereon an arm or point 166 secured toand carrying the key cup 70. This key cup is provided with amother-of-pearl finger piece 168, and a generally similar finger piece170 is provided on the F key cup 66. A needle spring 172 fixed in thepost 92 bears against a spur 174 on the underside of the hinge rod 100normally to hold the key cup 70 and the arm 162 in raised posiiton. Thehinge rod 100 is provided with a stop arm 176 engageable with the body12 of the saxophone to limit such outward movement.

With reference again to FIG. 1 the low C key cup 74 will be seen to befixed on an angulated arm or point 178 fixed to the hinge rod 180pivoted between the inner pivots of a pair of spaced posts 182 and 184.A low C spatula key 186 is also fixed on the hinge rod 180. The upperedge of the spatula key 186 is provided with a roller 188 rotatableabout an axis substantially perpendicular to the hinge rod 180. An outerhinge rod 190 is pivoted between the outer pivots of the posts 182 and184, and has fixed thereto a spatula key 192, specifically the Ebspatula. This spatula is provided with a roller 194 along its loweredge. The rollers 188 and 194 greatly facilitate the placement of thefinger on one or the other of the spatulas 186 and 192 withoutinterference with the other. An arm (not shown) fixed to the hinge rod190 is also fixed to the low Eb key cup 196 (FIGS. 3 and 4) covering thelow Eb tone hole 198.

Also in FIG. l, details thereof being omitted due to the scale of theligure, there is a chromatic Fit key 200 having a mother-of-pearl lingerpiece thereon, and fixed to a longitudinal hinge rod 202. An arm on thehinge rod 282 (said army being omitted from the drawings) carries thechromatic Fil key cup 204 (FIGS. 3 and 4) covering the chromatic Filhole 206. Conventional needle' springs (not shown) are provided fornormally holding closed the chromatic Fit key cup 204, for holdingclosed the low Eb key cup 196, andfor normally holding open the low Ckey cup 74.

Preferably guards are provided for the Eb tone hole 198 and key cup 196,and for the chromatic Fit key cup 204 and tone hole 206, although thesehave been omitted for clarity in the drawings. There is also preferablyprovided a thumb rest 208 on the body immediately below the chromatic'Fitone hole 206. Additionally, a neck strap eyelet 210 preferably isprovided on the back side of the saxophone, as is conventional.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, wherein the hinge rods 98 and 94, 95 and 96have been shown only in part, and most of the connections thereto havebeen omitted, there will be seen three additional main axes. Inparticular, there is provided a relatively short, generally longitudinalhinge rod 212 pivoted between posts 214 and 216. The hinge rod 212carries the angulated arm or point 218 on which the Cit key cover 78 ismounted. A spur 220, seen in the background of FIG. 4, is engaged by yaneedle spring 222 which biases the key cup 78 lightly toward openposition.

' A hinge rod 224 is aligned with the hinge rod 212, and is pivotedbetween the post 216 and a post 226. This hinge rod is relatively long,and toward its lower end carries a laterally extending arm 228 having atits outer end a Aset screw and lock nut adjustment 230 of the typepreviously described. The felted undersurface of the set screw isengageable with the key cup 80, which normally is open, and is operableto close this key cup ony the underlying tone hole.

Spaced up a bit from the arm 228, the hinge rod 224 carries a laterallyextending arm or point232 on which the Bb key cup 82 is mounted. At itsupper end, the hinge rod 224 has fixed thereto an L-shaped lever 234carrying a spatula key 236 having a roller 238 along its longitudinaledge (the right edge as viewed in FIG. 3), and a transverse roller alongits upper transverse edge 240. A needle spring 242 underlies the hingerod 224, bearing against a spur (not shown), whereby to pivot the hingerod so that the spatula key 236, the key cup 82, and the arm 228 arenormally in raised position. A stop arm 244 is fixed on the hinge rod224 immediately adjacent point 232, and is engageable with the body 12of the saxophone 10 to limit the outward movement of the aforesaidparts.

A continuous, elongated hinge rod 246 is spaced to the right (as viewedin FIG. 3) of the hinge rods 212 and 216, and is pivoted between a pairof posts 248 and 250. Near the lower end thereof, the hinge rod 246 hasan angulated arm 252 extending out over the top of the Cit key cover 78,bearing at the outer end a set screw and lock nut adjustment 254 of thetype previously described. VThe key cup 78 normally is in closedposition,-

and the arm 252 is normally raised. However, the hinge rod .246 uponpivoting thereof lowers the arm so that theV felt undersurface of theset screw is engageable with the top of the cup 78 to hold it in `closedposition.

Shortly above thetarm 252, the hinge rod 246 has a lateral arm or rpoint256 fixed thereon. Thelow B key roller 264 of the type previouslydescribed along its right edge, as viewed in FIG. 3.

A slightly longer hinge rod 266 is disposedgenerally parallel to and tothe right of the hinge rod 246, as viewed in FIG. 3. This hinge rod ispivotally mounted between a pair of posts 268 and 270. The hinge rod 266near its lower ,endis provided with a lever or arm 272 extending to theleft, and a lever 274 fixed on the lower end of the hinge rod 212overlies and is engageable with this lever. A` needle spring 276 isiixedin the post 268 and is engageable with a spur 278 beneath the hinge rods266 to bias the hinge rod 266 normally to hold the lever ork arm 272 upagainst 'the underside of the lever or arm 274.

A guard preferably overlies a substantial portion of the hinge rod 266near the lower end thereof, but has been omitted for simplicity ofillustration.

`At the upper end of the hinge rod 266 there is xed alateral arm 280(FIGS. 3L and 5, particularly) on which is mounted a spatula 282; Thisspatulais as long as the spatulas 236 and 262 taken together, in thelongitudinal direction of the saxophone. f Two rollers, 284 and 286,respectively, are positioned on this spatula, respectively adjacent therollers 238 and 264.

The post 270 is a double post and the hinge rod 266, previouslymentioned, is pivoted in the outer pivot thereof. The inner pivot of thepost 270 is aligned with the pivot of aipost 288, and three hingerods'290, 292k and 294 are pivoted between these posts and are pivotableindependently of one another except for certain interconnectionshereinafter to be set forth. The hinge rod 290 has` a laterallyextendingr arm 296 thereon, which overlies the outer end of an arm 298extendingto the right from the upper end of the hinge rod 94. yNo springbias is applied to the hinge rod 290. t

As seen in FIG. 4, the hinge rod further has a short i needle spring 314is v,fixed in the post 288 and bears against a spur 316extending fromthe hinge rod 292 toward the body 12. The spring tends to open the Gitkey cover 312, but this tendency is normally overcome,k

as will be set forth shortly hereinafter.

`A short lever arm or spur 318 extends toward the body 12 from the hingerod 292 and engages one end of a swivel 320 pivotally mounted on thebody at 322. The opposite end of the swivel engages a short lever arm orspur 324 yfixed on and' extending toward the body from the lower end ofthe hinge rod 294. Near the upper end of the hinge rod 294 is alaterally extending arm 326 carrying the Gti spatula 32,8. A needlespring 330 extending from the post 270 engages a spur 332 on theunderside -of the hinge rod 294, whereby normally to hold the spatula328 in raised position. The spatula 328 is substantially on a level withand laterally coextensive with the spatulas 262 and 282. As is shown inFIG. 5, there are two studs 334 and 336 fixed to the underside of thespatula 328, and respectively underlying the upper edges of the spatulas282 and 262, whereby depression of either'of these latter two spatulaswill result in depression of thespatula 328. The spatula 328 is capableof being depressedtindependently.

Operation and interconnection of the just described spatulasy is suchthat if the spatula 328 alone is depressed, the Gil keycup 312 rises to'open the Gil hole thereunder. When any of theremaining three spatulakeys 262, 236,

or 282 is depressed, the Git key cup again rises to open the Git hole.If it is the spatula 282 that is depressed,

the C# key cup 78 rises to open the Cit hole therebeneath.`

If the spatula 262 is depressed, the low B key cup 80 lowers to closethe low B hole, and the arm 252 lowers to hold closed the low Cithole-78. If the spatula 236 is depressed, then both the low B key cup 80and the low previously` mentioned, the hinge rod 110 bears a trans'verse arm ory point 340 on which is mounted the G resonator key cup 60.A needle spring 342 fixed in the post 112 bears against a spur 344beneath the hinge rod 110, and biases the hinge rod so as normallytohold the G resonator key cup 60 in raised position. As will be seen inFIG. 6, `the key cup has a pad 346 secured therein, for closingrthe Gresonator hole 348. Similarly, all of the otherkey cups previously andhereinafter described are provided with pads, although specificreference thereto is `omitted for simplicity. t

A hinge rod 350 is alinedy with kthe hinge rod 110 and is pivotedbetween the inner pivot of the post 338 and the linner pivot of a post352. This hinge rod has a laterally `extending arm 354 underlying theend of a, longitudinal'extension356 on theY G resonator key cup At theupper endof the hinge rod 350 there is ),ra'rovidedV an arm or point 364carrying the Bb bis` key 54. There.

is a` generally -longitudinal extension 366 on this key cup, bearing atthe .outer end thereof a set screw and lock nut adjustment 368 yof thetype heretofore described.

, A hinge rod 370 is Vpivoted between the inner pivot on thepost 352 andthe inner pivot'of'another post-372, the

hinge rodl`37`0 being aligned with the hinge rods 350V and 110. An arm374 .is xed to and extends laterally fromv thehinge rod 370and is heldupbeneath the set screw and klock nutadjustment 368 by a needle spring376i fixed inthe post 372 and, bearing against a spur'378A ing armorpoint 384 thereon carrying the A key'cup 5,8. A needle `spring 386fixed in the post 338 bears against a spur 388 on the underside of thehingerod 382, normallyto maintain the A key cup 58 raised. A stop arrn390 on the hinge rod '382 curves over and'around the hinge rod 380 anddown toward the body-12 ofthe saxophonef10 where it is engageable withya protuberance 392 on the surface ofthebody to limit movement of thestop arm 390 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 7, therebylimit-y ing theuppermost position of the A key cover 58. The hinge rod 382 also has theA key 56 secured thereon by means of a laterally extending arm 394. Aset screw and lock nut adjustment 396 is fixed on the side of the arm394 for bearing against the Bb bis cover 54.

A hinge rod 398 is aligned with the hinge rod 382, being pivoted betweenthe outer pivots of the post 352 and the post 372. This hinge rod hasiixed to it the laterally extending arm 400 carrying the B key cover 52withr a mother-of-pearl finger-piece 402 thereon. The cover 52 isnormally spring biased to raised position by a needle spring 404 fixedin the post 372 and bearing against a spur 406 on the underside of thehinge rod 398. Adjacent the upper `end thereof, the hinge rod 398 isprovided with a laterally extending arm 408 having a set screw and locknut adjustment 410 at the outer end thereof bearing against the normallyraised Cil key cover 48. A long hinge rod 412 is pivoted between a post414 and the outer pivot of a double pivot post 416 near the top of thebody 12. This 4hinge rod .has at the bottom end thereof a laterallyextending arm 418 bearing a spatula 420. rThis arm is engageable with apost 422 to limit movement of the arm 418 and pivoting the hinge rod412. (The post 422 is in the background in FIG. 7.)

At the upper end of the hinge rod 412, there is a laterally extendingarm or point 424 which carries the E key cup or cover 40.

Directly beneath the hinge rod 412 there is a hinge rod 426 pivotedbetween the posts 428 and 430. Near the bottom or lower end of thishinge rod an arm 432 fixed thereon projects up between the hinge rods412 and 110, and over the hinge rod 110 to the top of the key cup orcover 62 to which it is iixed. A needle spring fixed in the post 428 andidentified as 434 bears against a spur 436 on the hinge rod 426, andnormally maintains the G cup or cover V62 in raised position.

Somewhat over the arm 432, another arm 438 extends up between the hingerods 412 and 110 from the hinge rod 426, and extends above the hinge rod110 to a position overlying the G resonator key cup 60. The arm 438 hasa set screw and lock nut adjustment 440 at the outer end thereofengageable with the cup 60.

Farthur up the hinge rod 426 there is an arm 442 extending laterallybeneath the hinge rod 350 and carrying the G key 48. At the extremeupper end of the hinge rod 426 there is a short arm 444 extending intoward the body 12 of the saxophone 10 and engageable with the hookedend 446 of a swivel 448 pivotally mounted on the body at 450. The hookedend 446 of the swivel 448 extends around the post 430.

A hinge rod 452 is pivoted between the post 430 and the inner pivot ofthe double pivot post 416. This hinge rod carries a short arm 454extending in toward the body 12 and engageable with the opposite end ofthe swivel 448. The hinge rod 452 is not directly spring biased. It iscontrolled by the swivel, and also by a lateral arm (not shown)extending behind the body 12 of the saxophone for cooperation with theregister mechanism (not shown).

A longitudinally extending spatula key 456 is spaced to the right of thegroup of key covers just discussed, and is v pivoted about a transverseaxis 458 between a pair of posts 460. The spatula key 456 at its upperend carries the F key cup or cover 38, and at its lower or tail end isprovided with a spatula or linger piece 462. A leaf spring 464 normallyholds the key cup 38 in hole closing position, and a heel 466 n thespatula key limits depression thereof under the influence of the artistsfinger.

Immediately to the right of the spatula key 456 thereV is anotherlongitudinally extending spatula key 468, the upper end thereof beingolset somewhat to the right, whereas the upper end of the spatula key456 is slightly olset to the left. The upper end of the spatula key 468carries the Dit key cover 470, while the lower end is provided with alinger piece or spatula 472. The spatula is mounted on a transversehinge or pivot rod 474 pivoted between a pair of posts 476. The spatula468 is biased by a spring (not shown) similar to the spring 464 normallyto hold the Dit key cup in hole closing position.

Yet another spatula key 47 8 is mounted in longitudinal position to theright of the spatula 468, being pivotable about a transverse axisbetweena pair of posts 480, and bearing at the upper end the D key cupor cover 482. A finger piece or Vspatula 484 is provided at the lowerend, and a leaf spring similar to those previously shown (not shown)normally holds the spatula with the key cup 482 in hole closingposition.

A hinge rod 486 extends longitudinally in slightly skewed relation tothe left of the'spatula key 478, and to the right and over the spatulakey 468, being pivoted be-` tween posts 488 and 490. The Fit key cup 492is carried by alateral or transverse arm 494 at the upper end of thehinge rod 486, and a finger piece or spatula 496 is carried by alaterally extending arm 498 at the opposite end of the hinge rod 486. Aneedle spring 500 extends from the post 488 andbears against a spur 502on the underside of the hinge rod 486 for biasing the key cup 492 intohole closing position.

Just to the left of the spatula 456, there is a short, generallylongitudinal hinge rod 504 pivotally mounted be-.

tween a pair of posts 506 and 508. Adjacent the upper end of this hingerod, there is a laterally extending arm 510 positioned beneath the key456, and adapted to lift this key. At the lower end there is a generallyL-shaped lever 512 extending laterally in the opposite direction, andhaving a transverse extremity 514 thereon carrying a iinger piece 51,6,preferably faced with mother-of-pearl. Thus, when the linger piece 516is depressed, the Cit key cup 48 is depressed, and the arm 510 raisesthe spatula 456 to raise the F key cup 38 from its tone hole.

All of the mechanical details of the saxophone have now been described,except for certain parts of the register mechanism, which mechanismforms no part of the present invention, and certain trill keys. Much ofthe operation has been described heretofore, and most of the rest of theoperation will be obvious. One important feature, particularly to beborne in mind is that all of the smaller key cups are linked together.That is to say, if the finger piece 132 is depressed, all of the keycups 48, S4, 60, 64, 68 and 72 lower into closing position. It furtherwill be observed that if any of the right hand linger pieces 170, 132,or 168 is depressed, the interconnection through the arms 298 and 296,and swivel 304 prevents the Git key cup 312 from opening. As will beappreciated, this is essential through proper playing of the lower notesbelow the position of the Gil key cup. In particular, some of theselowerV notes are produced by the spatula keys 282, 262, and 236,depression of any one of which would open the Gli hole in the absence ofthe interconnections just alluded to.

As will bel appreciated, the keys to be operated by the left hand aremounted for pivoting about three different axes, allowing superioradjustment by way of the various set screw and lock nut adjustmentsreferred to. Further, the bearing points, as bythe undersurfaces of theset screws are remarkably close to the center lines of the holes to beclosed. Similar advantages are gained by the provision of the two axesfor` the pivoting of the keys operated by the right hand. All of thesmall keys operated by the left hand operate about a common pivot, andsimilarly, all of the small keys operated by the right hand operateabout a common pivot axis.

The large at head of each set screw (see for example the one in FIG. 6bearing on the Cil key cup 48) with the felt thereunder provides awide'bearing surface, affording long life, and insuring against theparts getting out of adjustment by wear of contacting small parts.

The specific construction as shown herein is for illustrative purposes,and various changes in detail will no doubt occur to those skilled inthe part. Suchchanges will be understood as forming a part of thepresent inven- 9 tion insofar as they fall within the spirit and scopeof the appended claims. n j t f The invention is claimed as follows:f 1. In a musical wind instrumentof the open tube type such as asaxophone having upstream and downstream ends, the combinationcomprising a hollow body having a plurality of tone holes thereinsubstantially aligned axially of said body, alternate ones of said toneholes being of small diameter relative to the adjacent tone holes, aplurality of tone hole closure members, one for each of said tone holes,pivot mounting means mounting said tone hole closure members from saidbody for pivoting independently of one another, means normallymaintaining all of said tone hole covers in raised hole open position,and

rmeans including one-way drive means interconnecting all of the closuremembers for said relatively small tone holes such that movement of anyoneof said small tone hole closure members to hole closing positioneffects urging of all of said small tone hole closure members upstreamthereof to hole closing position,l all small tone hole closure membersdownstream thereof remaining in raised hole open position.

2. In a musical wind instrument of the open tube type such as asaxophone having upstream and downstream ends, the combinationcomprising a hollow body having a plurality of tone holes thereinsubstantiallyy aligned axially of said body, certain of said tone holesbeing of small diameter relative to adjacent tone holes, a plurality oftone hole closure members, one for each of said tone holes, meanspivotally mounting said tone hole closure members from said bodyincluding means mounting the closure members for the small tone holesfor pivotal movement independent of one another, means normallymaintaining the small tone hole covers in raised hole open position, andmeans operatively interconnecting all of the closure members for saidrelatively small tone holes such that movement of any one of said smalltone hole closure members'to hole closing position effects urging of allof said small tone hole closure members upstream thereof to hole closingposition, all small tone hole closure members downstreamthereofremaining in raised hole open position.

3. In a musical wind instrument of the open tube type such as asaxophone having upstream and downstream ends, the combinationcomprising a hollow body having a plurality of tone holes thereinsubstantially aligned axially of said body, certainones of said toneholes being of small diameter relative to adjacent tone holes, aplurality of tone hole closure members, one for each of said tone holes,means pivotally mounting said tone hole closure members from said bodyincluding means mounting the closure members for the small tone holesfor individual pivoting, means normally maintaining the small tone holecovers in raised hole open position, and means rigid with each of thesmall tone hole closure members save the farthest upstream thereofrespectively overlying in drivingly engageable position the nextupstream small tone hole closure member whereby pivotal movement of anyone of said small tone hole closure members to hole closing positioneffects urging of all of said small tone hole closure members upstreamthereof to hole closing position, all small tone hole closure membersdownstream thereof remaining in raised hole open position.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 and further including a part oneach overlying member directly engageable with the hole closure memberof the next upstream small tone hole.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein the engageable partcomprisesa set screw, and further including a lock nut thereon.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein each set screw has alarge substantially flat head engageable with the underlying closuremember.

7. In a musical wind instrument of the open tube type from said body forpivoting independentlyof one another,k

means normally maintaining at least said some tone hole covers in raisedhole open position, and means including one-way drive meansinterconnecting at least said some closure members such that movement ofany one of said some tone hole closure members to khole closing positioneffects urging of at least all of said some tone hole closure membersupstream thereof to hole closing position, all of said some tone holeclosure members downstream thereof remaining in raisedhole openposition.

8. In a musical wind instrument of the open tube type.

such as a saxophone having upstream and downstream` ends, thecombination comprising a hollow body having a plurality of tone holestherein substantially aligned axially of said body, a plurality of tonehole closure mem` bers, one for each of said tone holes, means pivotallymounting at least some of said tone hole closure members` from said bodyfor pivoting independently of one another, means normally maintaining atleast said some tone hole covers in raised hole open position, and meansoperatively interconnecting at least said some closure members such thatmovement of any one of said some tone hole closure members to holeclosing position effects urging of at least all of said some tone holeclosure members upstream thereof to hole closing position, all of saidsome tone hole closure members downstream thereof remaining in raisedhole open position.

9. In a musical wind instrument of the open tube type such as asaxophone having upstream and downstream ends, the combinationcomprising a hollow body having a plurality of tone holes thereinsubstantially aligned axially of said body, a plurality of tone holeclosure kmembers, one for each of said tone holes, means pivotallymounting at least some of said tone hole closure members from said bodyfor pivoting independently of one another, meansnormally maintaining atleast said some tone hole covers in raised hole open position, and meansrigid with each of at least said some tone hole closure members save thefarthest upstream thereof respectively overlying in drivingly engageableposition the next upstream small tone hole closure member wherebypivotal movement of f any one of at least some tone hole closure membersto hole closing position effects urging of at least all of said sometone hole closure members upstream thereof to hole closing position, allof said some tone hole closure members downstream thereof remaining inraised hole open position.

10. A musical wind instrument of the open tube type such as a saxophonecomprising a hollow body having an upstream upper part and a downstreamrelatively lower part and having a plurality of tone holes thereinsubstantially aligned longitudinally of the body and same in theupper'body part and same in the lower body part, a like plurality oftone hole closure members, some of said tone hole yclosure members beingon the upper part of the body andconventionally operable by the fingersof the left hand and others of said tone hole closure members downstreamthereof being relatively on the lower part of the body andconventionally operable by the fingers of the right hand, threenon-aligned hinge rod means supported from said body and extendingsubstantially longitudinally thereof adjacent the upper body part toneholes, means respectively pivotally mounting the upper body part closuremembers about said three hinge rod means for pivotable movement to tonehole closing position, at least one such closure member being pivotableabout each of said hinge rod means, two non-aligned hinge rod meanssupported from said body and extending longitudinally thereof adjacentthe lower body part tone holes, and means l l respectively pivotallymounting the lower body part closure members about said two hinge rodmeans for pivotal movement to tone hole closing position, at least onelower body part closure member being pivotable about each of said twohinge rod means, said body having an additional tone hole displaced fromalignment with the previously mentioned tone holes, a closure member forsaid additional tone hole pivotally mounted from said body, saidlastmentioned closure member normally being in hole closing position,meansincluding a key interconnected with said last mentioned closuremember for removing it to raised hole open position, said body having aplurality of further tone holes, a like plurality of tone hole closuremembers therefor pivotally mounted from said body, means including alike plurality of keys inter- -connected with said plurality of furthertone hole closure members for reversing the condition of opening andclosing thereof, means interconnecting said plurality of keys with theadditional tone hole key whereby operation of any of said keys effectsmovement of said additional tone hole closure member to raised hole openposition, and means interconnecting the lower body part closure meml2bers and said additional tone hole closure member whereby movement ofany of said lower body part closure members prevents movement ofsaid-additional closure member to raised hole open position regardlessof the operation of any of said keys.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 745,804Ellis Dec. 1, 1903 750,935 Bercioux Feb. 2, 1904 1,146,368 Stover July13, 1915 1,332,336 Harvard Mar. 2, 1920 1,585,594 Mackey May 18, 19262,033,772 Loomis Mar. 10, 1936 2,036,492 Redler Apr. 7, 1936 2,867,146Mazzeo Jan. 6, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 283,924 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1927321,082 Great Britain Oct. 31, 1929 1,231,858 France Apr. 19, 1960

1. IN A MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT OF THE OPEN TUBE TYPE SUCH AS ASAXOPHONE HAVING UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM ENDS, THE COMBINATIONCOMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY HAVING A PLURALITY OF TONE HOLES THEREINSUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED AXIALLY OF SAID BODY, ALTERNATE ONES OF SAID TONEHOLES BEING OF SMALL DIAMETER RELATIVE TO THE ADJACENT TONE HOLES, APLURALITY OF TONE HOLE CLOSURE MEMBERS, ONE FOR EACH OF SAID TONE HOLES,PIVOT MOUNTING MEANS MOUNTING SAID TONE HOLE CLOSURE MEMBERS FROM SAIDBODY FOR PIVOTING INDEPENDENTLY OF ONE ANOTHER, MEANS NORMALLYMAINTAINING ALL OF SAID TONE HOLE COVERS IN RAISED HOLE OPEN POSITION,AND MEANS INCLUDING ONE-WAY DRIVE MEANS INTERCONNECTING ALL OF THECLOSURE MEMBERS FOR SAID RELATIVELY SMALL TONE HOLES SUCH THAT MOVEMENTOF ANY ONE OF SAID SMALL TONE HOLE CLOSURE MEMBERS TO HOLE CLOSINGPOSITION EFFECTS URGING OF ALL OF SAID SMALL TONE HOLE CLOSURE MEMBERSUPSTREAM THEREOF TO HOLE CLOSING POSITION, ALL SMALL TONE HOLE CLOSURE